Feline Infectious Peritonitis Treatment with Interferon

Feline infectious peritonitis is a viral disease that can
affect any domesticated cat. It is a deadly condition, and is very
difficult to treat. In many cases, the cat’s immune system will
actually work to make the infection worse. All cats can be infected,
but very young kittens and old cats are most susceptible. The disease
can spread between cats through their bodily fluids or feces.
Interferon, a natural protein that stimulates the cat’s immune system,
has been used as an effective replacement for traditional treatments.

Symptoms of Feline Infectious Peritonitis

Because feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) can affect any soft
tissue system in a cat’s body, the disease can give rise to a wide
variety of symptoms. There are two forms of FIP, the effusive form and
the dry form, and cats with the effusive form can accumulate large
quantities of fluid in the chest and abdominal cavities. The effusive
form can be easily identified in cats, because the fluid buildup will
give the animal a very pot-bellied appearance. Some of the most common
symptoms of both the dry and effusive forms of feline infectious
peritonitis are:

Fluctuating fever

Lethargy

Weight loss

Loss of appetite

If the cat’s central nervous system is infected with the disease, it could also display some neurological symptoms.

Diagnosis

If a cat is affected by the effusive form of feline infectious
peritonitis, the disease can be diagnosed using fluid cytology, or
analysis of the fluids collecting in the cat’s body. The most effective
method of diagnosing FIP in the dry form is a histopathological
examination, which involves scraping small tissue samples and examining
them under a microscope. There are also certain tests available that
search blood samples for antibodies for the virus, and tests that
search the blood for chemicals, called polymerase chains, that are only
associated with the FIP virus.

Traditional Treatment

Traditional treatments of feline infectious peritonitis include a
combination of immunosuppressant and antiviral drugs. The
immunosuppressants were used because the cat’s immune system usually
works against the cat in a FIP infection, and the antiviral drugs were
used to help kill the virus itself. These treatments were generally
ineffective, because the immunosuppressant drugs would suppress the
cat’s natural defenses, while the antiviral drugs were usually toxic to
the cat as well as the virus.

Treatment Using Interferon

Interferon helps the feline immune system fight off a peritonitis
infection by helping to identify infected host cells. These cells can
then be destroyed, along with the viruses they contain. While
interferon treatment is still not very effective (it only works on
about 30 percent of cats), it is one of the most effective treatments
available. It is administered orally in daily dosages, and has led some
cats to a complete recovery. The daily interferon dosage for cats with
non-effusive feline infectious peritonitis is 30 IU (international
unit). If a cat has effusive FIP, it is usually given an interferon
dose of 30 IU or more intramuscularly.

Side Effects of Interferon

The most common side effect of interferon injections in cats
consists of a range of flu-like symptoms. These can range from mild to
severe. Other possible side effects are much more prevalent in cats
that receive higher doses. They include:

Interferon is a protein that can help to increase the chances of
survival for cats infected with this disease. If your cat is suffering
from feline infectious peritonitis, you should seek interferon
treatment immediately.